Tray for hand-grips.



Ne. 667,403. Patented Feb. 5, |901. B. E. RICH.

TRAY FOR HAND GRIPS.

.KN-0 Hedel.)

NI'TED BENJAMIN E. RICH, OF CHATTANOOGA, TENNESSEE.

TRAY FOR HAN D-G RIPS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 667,403, dated February5, 1901.

Application niet im z2, 1900.

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, BENJAMIN E. RICH, a citizen of the United States,residing at Chattanooga, in the county of Hamilton and State ofTennessee, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Traysfor Hand- Grrips; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full,clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enableothers skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use thesame.

The traveling public is well aware of the advantages accruing from theuse of trays in trunks and traveling-cases; and it is the purpose ofthis invention to combine these and other advantages with the ordinaryhand-grip, telescope, and like handy receptacle for the traveler.

The tray as constructed for hand-grips and this type of articles isexceedingly light and braces the grip against external and internalpressure and comprises a frame of rigid material and a bottom of exiblematerial, such as canvas or other textile used for covering the frame,said bottom and frame being reinforced by transverse bars.

For a full description of the invention and the merits thereof, and alsoto acquire a knowledge of the details of construction of the means foreffecting the result, reference is to be had to the appended descriptionand drawings hereto attached.

While the essential and characteristic features of the invention arenecessarily susceptible of modification, still the preferred embodimentof the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which-Figure 1 is a perspective view of a grip, showing the tray in position,the covers of the grip being thrown open. Fig. 2 is a longitudinalsection. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the tray, the covers beingthrown open.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the followingdescription and indicated in all the views of the drawings by the samereference characters.

The grip l is typical of the class of receptacles or valises for whichthe invention is specially designed.

The tray will be of a size to snugly fit within the open end or side ofthe grip and is heldin serial No. 21,208. (No model.)

suspension by means of hooks 2, preferably applied to the end pieces ofthe tray and adapted to engage over the end pieces of the grip. Byhaving the tray of such dimensions to snugly iit Within the grip thelatter is braced upon all sides against external pressure, and by havingthe hooks 2 engage over the edges of the walls of the grip the latter isbraced against internal pressure.

The tray is composed of a rigid frame consisting of end bars 3 andlongitudinal bars 4, joined at their ends in any convenient andsubstantial manner. Transverse bars 5 con- -nect the longitudinal bars 4and strengthen and stiften the frame and reinforce the bottom 6, whichis composed, preferably, of a textile. The frame ot' the tray is coveredeither by leather, canvas, or other textile, according to the requirediinish of the tray and the cost thereof, and this covering is extendedto form the bottom 6 and is fitted about the transverse bars 5. It willthus be seen that the bottom is composed of two layers or plies ofmaterial. By constructing the tray in the manner stated it is lightand amaximum amount of room is provided compared with the external dimensionsof the tray. The top edges of the end pieces 3 arch or curve to conformto the outline of the end pieces of the grip, and the covers 7 aretransversely curved and are hinged at their outer longitudinal edges tothe bars 4. The tray is conveniently handled by the ordinary loops 8,applied to the end pieces 3 at a medial point. The hooks 2 are of metaland are secured to the end pieces 3 a'short distance from the bars 4 andare adapted t-o engage over the ends of the grip and hold the traysuspended therein. In addition to supporting the tray the hooks 2 byengaging over the top edges of the end pieces of the grip preventoutward displacement of said end pieces when subjected to internalpressure. thereby preserving the shape of the grip and preventingbulging thereof.

Having'thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is- A gripor like receptacle for travelers use comprising a body having flexiblesides or walls, a tray removably fitted in the open end of the grip andcomprising a frame of rigid material and of a size to fit againstcorrespond- IOO ing Walls of the grip to brace them against eX- Intestimony whereof I affix my signature termal pressure, and suspendingmeans apin presence of tivo Witnesses. plied to the tray to engage overthe top edges BEN E RICH [L S :I

of the Walls of the' grip to support the tray 5 and prevent outwarddisplacement of the said Witnesses:

walls of the grip when subjected 1:0 internal L. E. JORDAN, pressure,substantially as set forth. DAVID H. ELTON.

